Electric toaster



June 14, 1932. C, WRlGHT ELECTRIC TOASTER Filed May 29. 1929 4Sheets-Sheet 1 OOOOOOO j 3% @ce 6.'

4 Sheets-Sheet 2 H. C. WRIGHT ELECTRIC TOASTER Filed May 29, 1929 June14, 1932.

o aff l yJune 14, 1932. H. c. WRIGHT 1,362,733

ELECTRIC TOASTER Filed May 29, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 June 14, 1932. H,WR|GHT 1,862,733

ELECTRIC TOASTER Filed May 29. 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 baer/fw. Hczrace C'E v R lilla- "ll I Lwl...

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Patented June 14, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HORACE CALDWELLWRIGHT, OF OAK PARK, ILLINOIS, ASBIGNOB, TO CHICAGO FLEX- IBLE SHAFTCOMPANY, F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION 0F ILLINOIS ELECTRIC MASTERApplication led )lay 29,

The purpose of this invention is to provide an improved form of devicefor heat treatment of food and other substance requiring limited timeexposure to the heat means, including such devices as toasters. Itconsists in the elements and features of construction shown anddescribed as indicated in the claims.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of an apparatus embodying this invention.

Figure 2 is a right hand end elevation of the same.

Figure 3 is a section at the line 3-3 on Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a section at the line 4-4 on Fi ure 1.

gure 5 is a. section at the line 5--5 on Fi ure 4.

igure 6 is a section at the line 6-6 on Fi re 4.

igure 7 is a fragmentary view of a portion of Figure 5.

Figure 8 is a rear side elevation.

Figure 9 is a section at the line 9-9 on Figure 8.

The structure shown will be first described in general terms withoutreference to specific parts.

It consists of a frame structure in which there are arranged inhorizontal planes two heating units each comprising a succession ofparallel courses of spirally coiled high resistance wire, commonlyemployed for such purposes. Between these two heating units there isprovided a suitable support for the article to be heat-treated, as aslice of bread to'be toasted.

Associated with each unit there are provided devices which arehereinafter referred to as reflector-shields mounted in the'relation tothe units respectively for alternatively standing at the Side oppositethe position of the article to be heat-treated for reflecting the heatonto the article, or beingf interposed between the heating unit and saidarticle to shield the latter from the heat.

These reflector shields are each semi-cylindrically concavo-convex intransaxial section, and rendered highly reflective at the concave 1999.Serial lo. Somme.

side and relatively nonreiiective on the convex side; and they arepivotally mounted at the axes of their cylindrical forms respectivelywith the concave side toward the heatmg unit when they are standing atthe side of said heating unit opposite the position of the article to betreated; so that when they are rocked about the axis for interposingthem between the heating unit and the article treated they present theconvex side to the artlcle, and the concave side reilects the heat backonto the heating unit away from the article.

For compactness and simplicity of construction each reflector-shield isdimensioned for spanning and serving as reiiector-shield for twoadJacent courses of the heating coil; and said reflector-shields aredimensioned as to the diameter of their cylindrical form for meetlnlateral edge to lateral edge when assemble ,each facing the pair ofcoils which 1t serves.

The reilector-shields have each at each end a radial lug or ilangeaffording means for mounting it at the axis of the cylindrical form inthe frame structure; and, as shown, each has a rock shaft extendinglongitudinally through it, connecting the radial arms of its oppositeends, said rock shaft being journaled in the frame structure. A nd atone end each rock shaft is provided with a pinion for en aging the rackteeth of a bar mounted slidingly on the frame and connected foractuation longitudinally in one direction to rock the reflector-shieldsinto heat-reliecting position, and in the opposite direction to rockthem into shielding position.

The rack bar is connected to the frame structure by a sprin which istensioned for retracting and holding the rack bar at the end'of itsrange of slidin at which the reiiector-shields are held in s ieldingposition; and a catch is'providd for 'engaging the bar to lock it at theopposite limit of its range, to which it is drawn by the operator forsetting the reflector-shields in reflecting position when a slice ofmaterial to be treated has been placed in position between the heatingunits. This catch is connected with a timing device of any familiartype, consisting of a spring or weight-driven gear train governed y anescapement device, having 1ts winding shaft connected with a rack har soas to be operated for winding the train in 5 the movement of the rackbar for setting the reflector-shields in position, the train comprisinga part actuated in or by the train for tripping and releasing the catchwhen the train has run for a length of time predetermined by adjustmentprovided in the train mechanism.

Referring to the drawings The frame structure comprises front and rearuprights, 10, 10, each being a sheet metal stamplng formed with flanges,11, 11, at the vertical edges, producin ri ht angle corners for stiieninand a or ing means for securing longitu mal frame plates, 20, 20, tyingthe uprights, 10, 10, together in a rigid frame structure. The front andrear uprights, 10, have each a rectangular slot, 30, forming theentrance for the slice of material to be heat-treated; and a support forthe slice is formed by bars or rods, 40, extending between the twostandards at the plane of the lower margin of said slot, 30.

Above the horizontal zone of the slot, 30, there is suitably mounted,extending between the standards, an upper heatin unit, 50, and below theplane of said slot t ere is mounted a lower heatin unit, 60 eachconsisting of a heating coiarranged in parallel courses and formedcontinuously by 180 bends between adjacent courses alternately at frontand rear, as seen at 51 and 61 respectively.

The semi-cylindrical concave-convex re- Hector-shields are provided intwo sets for co-operating respectively with the upper and lower heatunits; and 1n each set they are of two forms, M and N, alternating witheach other in order transversely of the courses of the heating coil. Thetwo forms differ only in respect to the side from which the radial lug,42, projects to the axis of the cylindrical form, as may be noticed inFigure 5. For the upper set of reflector-shields the rock shafts, 43,connecting the front and rear lugs of each reflector-shield, arejournaled in the standards at a plane slightly above the plane of the uper heating unit, and the rock shafts, 44, or the lower set havesimilarly journaled in the standards at a plane similarly below thelower plane of the coils forming the lower heating unit.

The expedient of mounting the rock shafts oset from the planes of theheating coils respectively away from the zone of the slot, 30,--that is,away from the position of the slice to be heat-treated,permits theradial lugs extending from one lateral limit of the semi-cylindricalform of the reiector-shield to avoid interference with either. of thetwo heatin coil courses which are embraced by g5 the re ector-shield,notwithstanding each re- Hector shield is rocked from position concavetoward said embraced courses below the same to a position concave towardsaid courses above the same, as may be seen b comparison of Figures 5and 7, the an e through which the reflectors are rockedg being less than180, b an amount which accommodates the wi th of the lug, so that thediametric plane of the reiiector-shield is inclined to the horizontalplane in opposite directions at said two positions of the re-Hector-shield.

The successive shields of each set are dimensioned and their shafts arespaced so that at either position adjacent shields are in touch witheach other at their proximate edges, so that the entire set com latelyspans the entire heating unit to whic it pertains, both in the ositionopposite the heat-treated element or reflecting the heat to the latter,and in the position in which they are interposed between the heati unitand the heat-treated element for shielaling the latter from the heat.

Pinions, 45, are mounted upon the rear ends of the rock shafts, 44,respectivel and on the rear standard there is mounts slidably the cambar, 90, slotted as seen at 91 for its slidable mounting on suitablestuds, 92, fixed in said rear standard. The bar, 90 has a longitudinalslot, 94, at the middle o its width whose opposite edges are formed withracks, 95, at the upper edge, and 96 at the lower edge of the slot forenga 'ng at opposite sides the pinions, 45, 45, on a ternate 100 shafts,44, 44, so that in each movement of the rack bar alternate rock shaftsand the re- {lector-shields which they carry are rocked in oppositedirections for reversing the position of the reectors with respect tothe x05 heat unit to which they pertain, this reverse action being inaccordance with the reverse position of the lugs of adjacent reectors,that is, as being respectively at the opposite limits of their 180arcuate form.

In view of the circumstance that the continuous coil which forms eachheating unit may--and as shown does-have both terminals at the same endof the unit,-consider ing the lon 'tudinal dimension of the unit 115being the dlrection of the lon itudinal extent of the courses,-it ispossib e to provide the outer reflector-shields each with an additionalradial lug at the rear end as indicated at 42', the u being at atransverse 120 plane rearward of t e terminal of the coil, so that thecoil does not interfere with the lug, 42, swinging past it in therocking movement for reversing the position of the reflector-shield.

A stretched spring 100, is provided con necting the cam slide bar, 90,with the frame, said spring reacting for stressing the slide cam bar inthe direction for rocking the re- {lector-shields from the position forreflect- 1:3

.. ning down of the train,

ing the heat onto the article to be treated, to their position forshielding the article from the heat; that is to say, rom the positionshown in Figures 5 and 9 to the position shown in Figures 1 and 3.

For rocking and holding the reflectorshields at heat-reliectingposition. a dog, 89, is pivoted at 89a' on the rear upright, 10, forengaging a notch, 88, in a bar, 80, which is rifgid wit the slide cambar, 90, as hereina ter par icularly described.

To provide for automatically terminating the toasting operation byautomatic retraction of the cam slide bar, 90, after a predeterminatedperiod, and to provide for adjustment to vary the duration of theheating period, the construction shown is in detail as follows:

The slide cam bar. 90. mounted as described for sliding on the rearframe upright, 10, carries rigid with it by means of t1e bolts, 81,which extend through slots, 82, in said rear upright, 10, a parallelbar, 80, immediately behind said upright, 10. The bar, 80, carries arack, 83, which engages a winding gear, 84, of the timer train, A, whichis a weight-operated train, the operating weight, 85, eing carried on alever arm, 86,` at the rear end of the Winding shaft, 87.

The bar, 80, has a notch, 88, positioned tor engagement of the dog, 89,above mentioned, which is pivoted on the rear upright, 10, and springstressed for engaging the notch, 88, when the bar is in the position towhich it will be moved with the slide cam bar, 90, in setting thereliector-shields at reflecting or non-toasting position.

The rack bar, 83, is mounted on the bar, 80, by studs, 71, 71, whichengage inclined slots, 72, 72, in the rack bar. 83; and a spring, 74,operates to retract the rack bar, 83, so that sliding in the inclinedslots, 7 2, on the studs, 71. it is held normally out of engagement withthe Winding gear, 84. The rack bar, 83. has a handle, 75, and serves asthe means for moving the slide cam bar, 90, to set the reflector-shieldsat toasting position.

The initial part of the movement of the rack bar, 80, for such settingcauses it to slide to the inclined slots, 72, on the studs, 71, up intoengagement with the Winding gear, 84; and the remainder of the movementwinds up the train, lifting the Weighted lever from the dotted lineposition shown, releasing the dog. 89, and letting it down to ride onthe upper edge of the bar, 80, so thatl on the completion of the settinv movement of the reflector-shields and wint ing movement of the timingtrain. A. the dog. 8S), engages the notch, 88, in the har, 80. and locksthe parts at toasting position. Upon the operator releasing the handle.7 the ruck bar. 83. is retracted along the oblique slot, 72. out ofengagement with the winding gear, 84; so that on the runcausing theweight,

by means of a stud, 86, on the lever arm, 86, encountering the tail, 89,of the dog 89, to trip the dog, 89, out of the notch, 88, of the bar,80, permitting the slide cam bar 90 to be retracted by its spring, 100,the rack, 83, is out of engagement with the winding gear, and the trainis therefore ready to be rewound, and the parts are returned to initialposition ready for re-setting.

To provide for adjustment to vary the du ration of the toasting period,the winding rack, 83, is mounted on the bar, 80, not directly, but bymeans of an intermediate bar, 120. which is adjustable longitudinally ofthe bar, 80, as indicated by slots, 121, and securing screws, 122, andcarries a reading point, 123, for reading on a graduated scale, 124,formed on the bar, 80, and raduated in minutes of the toasting period.

If the maximum toasting period is wanted, the rack bar, 83, will be setso that the rack teeth engage' the Winding gear atthe start of thesetting movement; and if a shorter )eriod is desired, the bar, 120, willbe adpisted on the bar, 80, to set the foremost teeth of the rack bar,83, more or less back from the winding gear, S4; so that the completestroke for setting the slide cam bar, 90 at locked position, will rotatethe Winding gear, 84, and wind up the operating weight less or more, sothat it will run down and release the do in less than the full running`time.

It will be readily understood that without departing from the inventionas herein disclosed, a Wide variety of timing devices and operatingconnections of the same may lie arranged to co-operate with the meansfor settin the reflector shields at reflecting or shield1ng,-toastingand non-toasting,-po sitions: and I wish it to be understood that I donot limit myself to the particular means and devices shown for thatpurpose.

Also in respect to the means for operating the reflector shields to setthem alternatively at reflecting and shielding position, a variety ofconstructions may readily be devised which Will not depart from thesubstance of the present invention, and I do not limit myselfspecifically to the rack and gear means shown, although the same may beclaimed as preferred means for the purpose.

For giving the operator notice of the completion or termination of theheat treatment there may be provided either an audible or a visualsignaling device. and both an audible and a visuai signal are embodiedin the construction as illustrated in the drawings.

The audible signal consists of a bell indicated at 125 with a hammerseen at 12H. ea rried on a spring arm. 127. of which the wire or rodforming it is coiled about a pivot screw. 12S. set into the rear side ofthe rear upright. 10. and having an operating terminal extending downfrom the coil as seen at 129 into the path of a tooth. 80", projecttopass. and then snaps bac ing upward from the upper edge of the bar, 80,a stop stud,.130, being carried by the upright, 10, for stopping thehammer-carrying arm, 127, holding1r the hammer head out of touch withthe bell, a stretched spring, 132, being provided attached at 133 to therear upright, 10, and at 134 to the arm, 127, operating for holding thehammer arm against said stop. The operation of this bell signal is thatin the manually-performed movement for settingr the reflector screens atheattreating position, the tooth, 80, passes by the end of the terminal,130, which, due to the coil, 128, yields flexibly to ermit the tooth tothe position shown in Figure 8, without operating the emmer-carryingarm, 127, by reason of the latter being stopped, as mentioned, againstthe stop, 131; and in the return movement of the bar, 80, under thereaction of the spring, 100, the tooth, 80h encountering the terminal,130, rocks the entire hammer-carrylng member, retracting the hammer fromthe bell, and when the tooth has passed the end of the terminal thespring,.134, retracting thelarm, 127, against the stop, 131, rings theThe visual signal shown in the drawings consists of a flag, 140, carriedon an arm, 141, pivoted at 142 at the rear side of the rear u right, 10,said arm having a slot, 143, in w ic a. stud, 144, carried by the rackbar, 83, is engaged for swin ing the flag from full-line osition behindt e rear upright, 10, to dottedp line position where it 1s exposedforwardly in the movement ofthe bar, 8, due to the reaction of thespring, 100, retracting the operating cam bar for resetting thereflector screens at screening position and terminating heat treatment.When the Darts are operated for setting the reflector screens at reecting or heating position, the .flag is carrled back to full lineposition behind the apparatus out of sight of the operator.

1. In an electric toaster and the like in combination with a heatingcoil arranged in successively parallel courses, a series ofsemicylindrical concave reflector-shields each pivoted for rocking fromone side to the op posite side of a limited number of said courses foralternately shielding the toast from and exposing it to concentratedreflection of the heat of the coil.

2. In an electric heat-treatment apparatus a heat unit comprising asuccession of parallel courses of heating coil. and a support for thearticle to be heat-treated mounted in a plane parallel to said coursesand spaced therefrom, a succession ofV semi-cylindncally concavereflector-shields each axially pivoted parallel to a limited pluralityof said courses for rocking from a position between the coil and thesupport convex toward the support, and the position at the opposite sideof the coil from the support concave toward the support.

3. An electric heat-treatment device com prisin a carrier for an articleto heattreate a heat-treatment unit consisting of* a succession ofparallel courses of heating coil, and reflector-shields each facing -alimited plurality of said courses, each pivotecl longitudinally of thecoils and arranged for roc ing from a position at the side of the coilsop osite the carrier to a position between the coi s and the carrier;whereby said reflectorshields serve alternatel as reflectors fordirecting the heating of t 1e coils onto. the heattreated article on thecarrier, and for shielding said article from the heat of the coils.

4. An electric heat-treatment device comprisin a carrier for an articleto be heattreate a heat-treatment unit consisting of a succession ofparallel courses of heatin coil and reflector-shields having one sidehighly reflective and the opposite side relativel non-rellective, eachof said reflector-shiel s facing a limited plurality of said courses andeach pivoted longitudinally of the coils for rocking from a position atthe side of the coils opposite the carrier with the reflective sidefacing the ca rrier to a position between the coils and the carrier,whereby said re- Hector-shields serve alternately for concentrating theheat of the coils on the article to be heat-treated and for shieldingsaid article from the heat of the coils.

5. In the structure defined in claim 4. the reflector-shields beingsemi-cylindrically transaxially concave at the side facing the coils,whereby when at the position at the opposite side of the coil from thecarrier they serve to concentrate reliected heat on the article beingtreated.

6. In the structure defined in claim: 4,y the reflector-shields beingsemi-cylindrically transaxially concavo-convex and mounted with theconcave side toward the coils' when the reflector-shield is ositioned atthe opposite side of the coil; from the carrier; whereby at thatposition the reflector-shields serve to concentrate reflected heat onthe article to be heat-treated, and at the reverse position having theirconvex side toward the carrier and tending to diluse the radiated heat.

In the construction defined in claim 4, the reflector-shields being eachcylindrically transaxially concavo-convex with the concave siderelatively reflective, and the convex side relatively nonrellective, andhaving' at its opposite ends radial lever ams by which it is pivotallymounted and arranged each to span two adjacent courses of the coil andthe 180 bend by which said courses are continuous vwith each other.

8. In the construction, defined in claim 4, the reflector-shields beingeach cylindrically transaxially concavo-convex with the concave sidesrelatively reflective vand the con- 130 neeavsa vex sides relativelynonreflective, and having at its opposite ends radial lever arms bywhich it is ivotally mounted, the ivotal vanis heilig o set from theplane in which the 9. The construction defined in claim 4 comrising aframe structure in which the reector-shields are pivotally mounted, saidreiiector-shields having their ivots at one end extended and furnishedwith gear pinions, a rack bar mounted on the frame structure havingracks arranged to engage consecutive pinions respectively at oppositesides thereof, and means for reci rocating the rack bar for rocking there actor-shields, whereby consecutive shields are rocked in oppositedirections. y

10. In a heat'treatment apparatus, a heating unit mounted in fixedposition; a carrier for the article to be treated mounted iixedly withrespect to the heating unit, and means for concentrating the heatradiated from the heating unit on the article on the carrier, said meansbeing mounted for movement back and forth between a position fordirecting the radiated heat toward the article and a position fordirecting the heat away from the article treated.

11. A heat treatment apparatus comprising a holder for the article to beheat treated; a heating unit having a succession of parallelheat-radiating elements and a reflector shield having one side highlyreflective and another side relatively non-reflective, each of saidreiiector shields being mounted facing a limited number of said parallelheat-radiating elements, and each being pivoted for rocking about anaxis parallel to said parallel elements from a position at the side ofsaid elements op osite the holder with the retlector side acing theheating elements to a position between said elements and the holder.

12. A heat treatment apparatus comprisingl a holder for the article tobe heat treated, an heat radiating units mounted xedly with respect tothe position of the holder at opposite sides of the position of thecenter of the holder, heat-directing means mounted with relation to theheat-radiatn units respectively for movement back an forth betweenositions fordirectin the radiated heat towar the position of t e articleon ythe holder and position for directing the radiated heat awa rom saidposition of the article.

13. A eat treatment apparatus comprising a holder for an article to beheat treated, two heat-radiating units having each a roup oflongitudinally parallel heat-radiating elements and a grou ofreflector-shields associated with each o said units, each reflectorshield being mounted facing and spanning transversely a limited numberof said arallel radiating elements, each of said reector shields beinpivoted for rocking about an axis para-l el to said parallel elementsfrom a position at the side of said elements opposite the holder withthe reector side facing the heat-radiating elements to a positionbetween said elements and the position of the article carried b theholder.

14. The construction de ned in claim 4 comprising a frame structure inwhich the reilector-shields are pivotally mounted, the latter havingtheir plvots at one end extended and furnished with gear pinions, a rackbar mounted on the frame structure having rack elements engaged with thepinions respectively, and means for actuating the rack bar' at will inone direction for rocking the reflector-shields to position them at theoposite sides of the coils from the carrier or Vreflecting theM heat ofthe coils toward the carrier, and spring means for actuating the rackbar in the opposite direction.

15. In a heat-treating apparatus in combination with a heating element asupport for the article to be heat treated, a screen arranged to bemovably interposed between the heating element and the article on thesupport, spring means for holding the screen element normally inscreening position, means for manually withdrawing it from suchposition, and releasable locking means for holdin it out of screeningposition, means for re easing the locking device to permit theretraction of the screen to screening position, and an audible signalarranged to be` operated by the return movement of the screen toscreening position.

16. In a heat-treating apparatus in combination with a heating element asupport for the article to be heat treated, a screen arranged to bemovabl interposed between the heating element an the article on thesupport, spring means for holding the screen element normally inscreening position,

means for manually withdrawing it from such position, and releasablelocking means for holding it out of screening position, means forreleasing the locking device to permit the retraction of the screen toscreening position, a visual signal and automatic means for operating torender it visible upon the return movement of the screen to screeningposition.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set m hand at Chicago, Illinois,this 22d day of la? 1929.

RACE CALDWELL WRIGHT.

